Motion Comics
A visual blueprint for animation — combining character design, layout strategy, background detailing, and production-ready workflows.
Character Line-Up
The character designs are inspired by a famous comic book series in India called ‘Amar Chitra Katha’. The overall form is organic with a mix of sharp edges.
Character Design & Rig
The shapes are simple yet defined by heavy lines featuring finer details within using thinner linework. Additional shade stores can be used for added volume.
Character Design Details
Due to limitations in the animation the poses are required to be highly dynamic and interactive with available props. At the same time, certain elements within the design need to be animated to breathe life into the artwork.
Character Design Process
Line Art
In this stage, the line art is created, including design details. Heavier lines and shadows are added in select areas for shadows.
Flat Colors
In the next step, flat colors are filled in as per the color palette. No gradients or multiple tones to be used.
Screen-tone
In the final stage, using a screen-tone brush, soft shadows are painted on to give an impression of depth and light.
Character Rig
The animation style is inspired by motion comics, in which static images are converted to give an impression of motion with the use of partial character animation + camera motion +additional effects. A the pre-production phase, the elements that are going to be animated needs to be planned out. Generally, pieces such as hair, loose cloth and similar pieces are to be animated along with minor anatomy movement.
Background – Interior
The environment design for this style is used for two different purposes. Wide establishment shots. Backdrop for character interaction. For establishment shots, linework detailing is high ( thick and thin lines, dark shadows) a variety of complimentary colors. The eye level is kept closer to the level of the second character otherwise complex camera angles may be used establish a setting.
Background – Exterior
The environment design for this style is used for two different purposes. Wide establishment shots. Backdrop for character interaction. For establishment shots, linework detailing is high ( thick and thin lines, dark shadows) a variety of complimentary colors. The eye level is kept closer to the level of the second character otherwise complex camera angles may be used establish a setting.
Background – Structure
The background art structure follows a 3 step layer breakdown. It contains a ‘Foreground’, ‘Midground’ and a ‘Background’ layer.
Background Interior Elements
Midground Interior Elements
Foreground Interior Elements
Background Exterior Elements
Midground Exterior Elements
Foreground Exterior Elements